Peyton

I was a mix between hurt and angry. The collision of my personal life with my work life had caught me completely off guard. Mostly my pride stung from the way Simon had dismissed me so coolly. I recognized we’d only been out once, and he didn’t owe me anything, but dammit, he didn’t have to make me feel like a fool. It seemed a cruel joke that I’d have to work with this other version of him over the next few weeks.

Megan tapped on my door and came in, wide-eyed. She took one look at my face, which must have been showing a fair amount of stress, and shut the door behind her.

“Oh, fuck. They promoted Jeff over you. Are you fucking serious?”

I shushed her. “No. Nobody has been promoted yet. But we’re starting an audit. That will be happening over the next couple of weeks, like I indicated in the staff meeting.”

She wasn’t stupid. “Because George is selling.”

“You know I can’t tell you that even if I was aware of it.” I couldn’t lie, but I also didn’t want to break confidence.

“Since we once talked about the possibility of George wanting to sell after Carol had cancer, it’s not hard to jump to that conclusion. His heart just isn’t in it any more. Hell, it’s how Jeff got hired and has been such a shit these last three years. George was checked out for his wife and not able to pay attention like he normally would have to staffing issues.”

I couldn’t agree more. Before his wife had cancer, he would’ve been one of the first to notice a bad hire and taken care of it.

“Anything else upsetting you?”

I wanted to tell her. Especially about Simon being my date from Saturday, then finding him here this morning. But I couldn’t burden her with it. My friend tended to be unable to hide her true emotions, so if I wanted her to do well with the interview, I couldn’t spill any of my issues.

I chose to paste on a smile. “I have a long list of audit items. Plus, one of the guys on site with the purchasing company is competing with Jeff for asshole of the year.”

“What can I help with?”

That’s what I loved about her. Always willing to pitch in. “I’ll forward you the items. We’ll go through it and mark any questions. Then tomorrow we’ll get started. I need to email Emma, my audit liaison, to find out where she wants us to put the documents as we gather them.”

I left on time that night. Mainly because I knew the rest of the week I wouldn’t be so lucky. Knowing this reminded me to call my brother-in-law and ask him to stop by to take care of Cooper later in the week. Kevin wouldn’t mind, but I’d be sure to offer to babysit soon to repay the favor.

Since I was tired of checking my phone, hoping Simon would contact me, I blocked his number on my cell phone. Now I could imagine he was trying like mad to get a hold of me and couldn’t. It was silly, but hell if it didn’t make me feel better than waiting and hoping for him to reach out.

What I hadn’t expected when I pulled in my driveway was a beautiful bouquet of flowers on my front porch. A card said, “Thinking of you. Hoping to get a minute before Friday.” It was from Simon.

What the hell? He must have sent these before he found out I worked at Maddox Consulting. Before he’d been a dick and pretended he didn’t know me. Although I was tempted to drop kick them off the porch, I realized I couldn’t. They were too pretty. Maybe I’d tell Kevin to take them to my sister tomorrow when he came by, so someone could enjoy them.

Cooper was super happy to see me when I came through the door, putting the first real smile on my face all day.

Since I was in the mood for a pity party for one, I slipped into my pajama bottoms and a tank top, threw my hair up in a bun and poured a glass of wine. When the doorbell rang, I contemplated changing my clothes, but then decided against it. After all, who was I looking to impress?

Certainly not the man I found standing on my porch when I opened the door.

It was Simon. Still in his suit from the office.

“Can I come in?”

I hesitated.

“Please.”

The added word tipped the balance. I backed up, allowing him to pass, but I didn’t say a word. After all, he was no longer the nice guy I thought I knew from our date.

He set his keys on my kitchen counter and looked around. “Where’s Cooper?”

“In the backyard.”

“I tried calling.”

“I blocked your number.”

His face showed his surprise. “I see.”

We both stood there, silent for the longest time until finally I spoke. “If that’s all you’ve come to say, you should probably go.”

He stepped closer to me but then stopped, putting his hands in his pockets as if to keep from touching me. “It took me off guard to see you walk into the conference room today.”

“You and me both.”

“I regret having to say what I did when you came to my office. But my main concern was protecting your job. If I’d acted any different towards you than I did or indicated we’d met, Tom would have suspected something, and we’d both be off this buyout.”

“It was a bit shocking to be talked to that way by you. To know you’re that cold at work.”

He sighed contritely. “It’s what I get paid to do. Be cold, concise, and calculating.”

“I’m not a fan of the three Cs.” And why oh why did he have to look so handsome standing here in my house?

“For the first time, neither am I. I’ve never had my personal and professional lives collide like this.”

Yeah. Me, neither. He looked uncomfortable, as if he was struggling with the words, so I beat him to them.

“I take it Friday night’s date is cancelled.”

“I wish it could be different, but I have to think of the job. Not to mention protect yours. The last thing I want is for anyone to think I’m biased when it comes to the selection of CFO or you keeping your current position.”

“Meaning you’ll be interviewing me for the promotion.”

He blew out a breath. “Yes. So will Tom.”

I moved to my kitchen island, grabbing my glass of wine and drinking deeply. “Guess I’m sunk in the water, then.”

“Not necessarily, but you can’t tell anyone you only want the job to protect your staff from who I’m assuming is Jeff. You have to say it’s because you’re qualified. There’s a reason George appointed you the key person for the audit and that you’ve been the interim CFO. Tell us why, and it’ll increase your chances. Tom will look to rile you up. You can’t let him.”

“You probably should forget what I said about Jeff at the restaurant. And you shouldn’t be giving me advice or do me any favors.”

“I’ll forget it and make my own assumptions, but take the advice.”

“Fine.” It wasn’t bad advice, but I hated the circumstance under which it was given.

His gaze fell on the flowers. “Guess I should be thankful you didn’t throw them away.”

“They were too lovely. Tell Emma she has good taste.”

“I didn’t think you’d appreciate me having her send them. I ordered them myself.”

“You’re right. I probably wouldn’t have. Thank you.”

I was surprised he’d taken the time. His gesture made it all the harder to swallow that we wouldn’t be able to date. Although I’d realized the whole thing was destined to be short term, it felt especially cruel to have it cut even shorter. But it was clear work and romance would never go together for a man like Simon. Nor should I be tempted to try to give the combination a chance, especially if I wanted the CFO position. However, this newest development of George selling the company made me feel conflicted about whether to stay at all.

 “Seems weird to say you’re welcome since I’m now saying we can’t see one another again. I wish it could be different.”

“Me, too.”

He picked up his keys, and I walked him to the door, the whole thing screaming awkward. He stood there on my porch shuffling his feet.

“I hate this.”

I sighed, letting go of some of my anger because he looked sincere. “Me, too.”

He must’ve felt the awkwardness over the moment also as he appeared to struggle with the words. “Guess I’ll see you around.”

“Guess so. But not unless I email Emma first.”

He winced at the reminder of his comment up in the conference room. “I regret how that sounded, but with Tom there, I had little choice.”

I noticed he didn’t outright apologize. But then, did it really matter if we weren’t pursuing a personal relationship? He’d been blunt yet still professional.

“In retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have barged up there. Anyhow, um, have a good week.”

His gaze was filled with remorse. “You, too.”

I watched him walk away and get into his car without a look back as if I was simply a blip in his carefully constructed plan. Perhaps this was a sign. A sign that it was never meant to be.